 Cuttitta in 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1966-09-02)2 September 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Died | 11 April 2021(2021-04-11) (aged 54) Albano Laziale, Lazio, Italy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 242 lb (110 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative | Marcello Cuttitta (twin brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Massimo Cuttitta (Italian pronunciation:[ˈmassimokutˈtitta]ⓘ; 2 September 1966 – 11 April 2021) was an Italian professional rugby union player and coach. He used to play as a prop. He was the twin brother ofMarcello Cuttitta.
Cuttitta was born atLatina. His family moved toSouth Africa in the late 1960s, where the Cuttitta brothers, including older sibling Michele, started to practise rugby. He attended High School atPinetown Boys' High School along with his brother.
After the return to Italy, Massimo and Marcello started to play at a more serious level atL'Aquila Rugby. In 1988, they both moved toAmatori Rugby Milano, where Massimo played until 1997. He won four titles of Italian Champion, in 1990/91, 1992/93, 1994/95 and 1995/96,[1] and the Cup of Italy, for 1995. He later went to play forHarlequin F.C., inEngland, for the season of 1997/98. Returning to Italy, he played forRugby Calvisano (1999/2000),Rugby Bologna (2000/2001),Rugby Roma Olimpic (2001/2002),Amatori Rugby Alghero (2002/03), Rugby Bologna (2003/04), for a second time, andRugby Leonessa 1928, that he represented from 2004/05 to 2005/06, being his last team.
Cuttitta made his debut forItaly in 1990 againstPoland and went on to gain 69 caps, scoring six tries and captaining the side 22 times.[1] He played at theRugby World Cup finals, in 1991 and 1995, this time as the captain. He won the title of theFIRA Cup, in 1995/97, winning againstFrance in the final. He played in the first game for Italy in the inauguralSix Nations, in2000, which his side won 34–20 againstScotland.[1]
He started a coaching career, after ending his playing days, becoming the coach of Amatori Rugby Milano, for 1996/97. In 2004, he took charge of Rugby Leonessa, for the following two seasons, moving then toEdinburgh Rugby, in Scotland. After a season, he moved to L'Aquila Rugby, where he had started his player career. He also worked for six years as scrummaging coach for the Scotland national team.[2]
Cuttitta died in hospital in Rome on 11 April 2021, having been admitted with symptoms ofCOVID-19.[3]
In his honour and to celebrate his contributions to rugby in both nations, starting from the2022 Six Nations Championship theCuttitta Cup is awarded to the winner of the match betweenItaly andScotland.